Vehicle Controller Glide Mode Activation via Acceleration Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle coasting control systems can cause inconsistent vehicle deceleration behavior and conflict with engine-mounted regenerative battery charging systems, leading to unexpected driver responses and reduced fuel efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle controller that activates a 'glide mode' by analyzing torque request and acceleration data to identify opportunities for decoupling the driveline, allowing the vehicle to maintain a consistent response and reduce fuel consumption, even when the throttle is partially depressed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If overrun idle coasting control systems are activated when the driver releases the throttle pedal, then fuel consumption can be reduced, but the vehicle deceleration behavior becomes inconsistent and driver confidence is negatively affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the activation parameter from throttle pedal position to actual vehicle acceleration measurement. By monitoring whether the vehicle is accelerating more or less than expected for the current torque, the system identifies genuine glide opportunities while maintaining consistent deceleration behavior. This parameter change allows the system to activate coasting only when it will not be perceptible to the driver, resolving the contradiction between fuel savings and consistent vehicle behavior.
2Use of energy by moving object
If overrun idle coasting control systems are activated during favorable travelling conditions, then fuel consumption can be reduced, but conflict arises with engine-mounted regenerative battery charging systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors actual vehicle acceleration and compares it to expected acceleration for the current torque. This feedback loop allows the system to identify when the vehicle is in a genuine glide state (accelerating less than expected) and activate coasting only in those conditions. The feedback ensures that coasting activation does not conflict with regenerative braking systems, as it only activates when the vehicle is already coasting naturally, resolving the contradiction between fuel savings and system compatibility.
3Productivity
If the vehicle glide mode is activated to reduce fuel consumption, then operating efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing controller multi-functional by adding glide opportunity identification capabilities to its existing torque and acceleration monitoring functions. Rather than adding a separate dedicated coasting control system, the invention utilizes the existing controller's ability to monitor vehicle parameters and adds the logical comparison between actual and expected acceleration. This universal approach allows one controller to perform both traditional torque management and glide detection, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved operating efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a vehicle controller (1) for activating a vehicle glide mode. The controller (1) receives vehicle operating data including torque request data representative of a torque request; acceleration data representative of vehicle acceleration; and output torque data representative of an output torque. The controller (1) is configured to analyse the vehicle operating data to identify a vehicle glide opportunity. The controller (1) is operative to generate an activation signal (4) for activating the vehicle glide mode when said vehicle glide opportunity has been identified and the torque request is positive. The controller is thereby operative to implement a vehicle glide strategy. The controller (1) can also operate to deactivate the vehicle glide mode. The present invention also relates to a method of activating a vehicle glide mode.